Why choose our MScs?

Each programme is structured to meet the demand from firms for highly-skilled legal and compliance professionals (covering Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorist Financing, Regulatory Compliance, Risk and Legal areas). The link between legal skills and core compliance skills is extensive. The merging of these areas will create a range of professionals that are more in line with the modern demands and pressures being encountered in the financial services compliance sector.

Each course will focus on the mix of professional skills required to apply regulations in practice – analysis, drafting and presentation skills, among others – so that you are equipped with the knowledge you will need as you build your international career.

We know what it takes to succeed on the constantly changing global, legal and financial services and compliance stage. Everything we do is geared towards teaching in a professional, practical context so you can enhance your professional skills and career prospects as a modern professional.

Highlights

Enhance your career with a qualification that reflects cutting-edge approaches to international law, regulatory risk and compliance

Learn the professional skills required to apply regulations on the global stage in the field of compliance

Gain practical experience from tutors with international experience

Benefit from modules designed in conjunction with leading professional law firms

Those who have successfully completed the specific diploma receive 90 M-level credits of APL for the MSc in that same subject area.

REMINDER: To be eligible for our MSc programmes, students must already hold either the ICA Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Governance, Risk and Compliance, the ICA Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Crime Compliance or the STEP Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Private Wealth Advising. For the avoidance of doubt, no other diplomas nor equivalent qualifications from any other institution will be recognised as granting eligibility to study.

Complete via Supported Online Learning

This flexible method of study means you can fit your study around existing work or other commitments. You are not required to attend on-site and all assessment is coursework-based and submitted online.

Individual Tutor Support

Students are allocated a specific law tutor (a qualified lawyer) for each module to give them feedback on submitted tasks and provide one-to-one support. On successful completion of each unit, you’ll receive an exemplar covering both the law and other professional skills, such as an example client letter where the task involves advising a client in writing. For the dissertation element, students are supervised online by a law tutor providing guidance and support.

* In 2016, 96% of our full-time LPC students who passed the course in the summer were employed within nine months.

if you are not from a majority English-speaking country, a score of at least 6.5 in all sections of the relevant tests administered by the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) (Academic).

We also normally expect you to have one of the following qualifications:

*if you wish to follow the “Law Background” route through either the MSc Law, Governance, Risk & Compliance, the MSc Law and Financial Crime Compliance or the MSc Law and Private Wealth Advice, you must hold an undergraduate law degree at 2:2 or equivalent.

REMINDER: To be eligible for our MSc programmes, students must already hold either the ICA Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Governance, Risk and Compliance, the ICA Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Crime Compliance or the STEP Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Private Wealth Advising. For the avoidance of doubt, no other diplomas nor equivalent qualifications from any other institution will be recognised as granting eligibility to study.

Recognising that compliance professionals come from a variety of backgrounds, there are two routes through each MSc programme.

“Law Background” route

If you hold an undergraduate law degree of 2:2 equivalent or above (and produce confirmation of this in your application), your MSc study will comprise:

Research Methods module (30 credits) – studied over 6 months

Practice-Focused Dissertation (60 credits) – studied over 6 months

You must pass the Research Methods module before commencing study for the dissertation element.

The Practice-Focused Dissertation is a dissertation of up to 15,000 words. The dissertation must be in the subject area of your chosen route ie Law, Governance, Risk & Compliance, or Law and Financial Crime Compliance or Law and Private Wealth Advise..

“Non-Law Background” route

If you do not have an undergraduate law degree of 2:2 equivalent, your MSc study will comprise:

You may study your Law & Practice module at the same time as you study the Research Methods module (but do not have to).

You must have completed studies on your Law & Practice module before commencing study for the dissertation element.

You must pass the Research Methods module before commencing study for the dissertation element.

The Professional Practice Dissertation is a dissertation of up to 7,500 words. The dissertation must be in the subject area of your chosen route ie Law, Governance, Risk & Compliance, or Law and Financial Crime Compliance, or Law and Private Wealth Advice.

This is compulsory in both the “Law Background” and “Non-Law Background” routes through either of these MSc awards. You must pass the Research Methods module before commencing studies on the dissertation appropriate to your route.

Key Skills Development

Research, writing, presentation, analysis.

Selecting a research topic in the law

Defining appropriate research questions

Conducting a literature review

Conducting research focused around one or more research questions

Drafting and presenting a research proposal

Critically evaluating research within the law, and reflecting on one’s own development as a researcher

If following the “Non-Law Background” route, you will must study one of the modules below. You must complete your study (i.e. submit the Module Assignment and Portfolio Report) for your Law & Practice module before commencing studies on the Professional Practice Dissertation. You can study your Law & Practice module at the same time as taking the Research Methods module.

This module teaches the fundamentals and structure of international intellectual property practice and includes an introduction to the various intellectual property rights and the international agreements in place to cover them. It also makes a comparison of UK and international rules on the following: passing off, trademarks, copyright, database right, data protection, design rights, patents and confidentiality.

Overview

You’ll learn the fundamentals of intellectual property and how it can be used to protect and licence ‘products of the mind’ using the rules of law around the world.

Highlights

Detailed examination of the main forms of intellectual property protection, including trademarks, passing off, design rights, copyright, patents and confidentiality

Become familiar with intellectual property rules in the UK and other major jurisdictions, such as the US, mainland Europe and the Far East

Gain a truly international perspective by examining major worldwide conventions which harmonise intellectual property rules around the world

Detailed case study on exploitation of intellectual property by way of licensing, including redrafting a patent licence to comply with European Union regulations

This module teaches the fundamentals and structure of international anti-trust practice and covers abuse of dominant or monopoly position, anti-competitive agreements, investigations and enforcement of competition law and merger control.

Overview

Gain an understanding of the main aspects of UK, EU and US competition law – and its impact on the commercial world.

Highlights

Examination of economic principles that underpin competition law, as well as the legal framework in the UK, EU and US

Study the sources of competition law and where legislation, case law and guidance can be found

Analysis of the main areas of competition law, including anti-competitive agreements, abuse of market position, mergers and the relationship between competition law and intellectual property

Consideration of competition law in other countries, including Australia and South Africa

This module teaches the fundamentals and structure of international anti-trust practice and covers abuse of dominant or monopoly position, anti-competitive agreements, investigations and enforcement of competition law and merger control.

Overview

Consideration of the legal and commercial implications of entering into an international joint venture.

Highlights

Examine the different kinds of joint venture (structural or contractual)

Understand the financing and documentation needed to establish a joint venture and ensure its successful operation

This module teaches the fundamentals and structure of international arbitration practice. It covers the arbitration agreement, commencing proceedings, the arbitral tribunal, the award and the costs of the arbitration and recognition and enforcement of the award.

Overview

The procedures for, and benefits of, resolving claims by arbitration – with an emphasis on client-focused commercial advice and practical problem solving.

Highlights

Thorough grounding in the principles of arbitration law, including the rules of major international arbitration institutions, such as the ICC, LMIA, UNCITRAL and the IBA guidelines on conflict of interest and taking evidence in international arbitration

Examine key pieces of domestic arbitration law in England and Wales such as the Arbitration Act 1996

Understand the relationship between institutional rules and the substantive arbitration law of the seat of arbitration

Tackle real-life challenges of an international arbitration lawyer such as advising on the suitability of arbitration, drafting an arbitration agreement, preparing evidence, advising on an appeal against an arbitration award and advising on an application for enforcement of an arbitration award pursuant to the New York Convention

REMINDER: To be eligible for our MSc programmes, you must already hold either the ICA Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Governance, Risk and Compliance, or the ICA Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Crime Compliance, or the STEP Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Private Wealth Advising. For the avoidance of doubt, no other diplomas nor equivalent qualifications from any other institution will be recognised as granting eligibility to study.

Part I (ICA)

Students must have passed either the Professional Postgraduate Diploma in GRC awarded by the International Compliance Association (ICA), or the Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Crime Compliance awarded by the International Compliance Association (ICA), or the Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Private Wealth Advising awarded by STEP.

The University of Law will grant 90 (M-level) credits towards the MSc Law, Governance, Risk and Compliance, or the MSc Law and Financial Crime Compliance, or the MSc Law and Private Wealth Advice, on your production of confirmation of completion of this stage. The credits are applied to the named award. For example, if you hold the ICA Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Crime Compliance, then the 90 (M-level) credits will be applied towards the MSc Law and Financial Crime Compliance only.

Part 2 (University of Law)

The MSc component (either subject area) will consist of a series of modules comprising M-level credits.

“Law Background” route through either MSc

Research Methods module – 30 credits

Practice-Focused Dissertation - 60 credits

“Non-Law Background” route through either MSc

Law & Practice module of choice – 30 credits

Research Methods module – 30 credits

Professional Practice Dissertation – 40 credits

Students receive up to seven hours of supervision via e-mail from a University of Law tutor during each module, and further online supervision during the dissertation element.

Research Methods module – the Dissertation Proposal Form

The Research Methods module builds to the submission of the Proposal Form for the dissertation appropriate to route – either the “Law Background” or “Non-Law Background”.

The module provides guidance in how to complete the Proposal Form, which is the basis for the dissertation stage: the topic area must be relevant to the MSc studied (i.e. either Law, Governance, Risk & Compliance, or Law and Financial Crime Compliance, or Law & Private Wealth Advice) and the assessment also approves the title chosen.

Students must pass the Research Methods module before commencing the dissertation study period.

Module Assignments and Portfolio Report (“Non-Law” Background route)

There are nine units per module, eight of which are supervised by a University of Law tutor, the ninth is a Module Assignment. Each of the eight supervised units require approximately 15 hours of study over a period of 2.5 weeks. Each unit requires a written submission to the supervising tutor: the tutor provides feedback on each submission, but this does not form part of the assessment of the module.

At the end of the Law & Practice module you will be required to submit a Module Assignment (3,000 to 5,000 words) and students have three to four weeks to complete this.

At the same time, you must submit a Portfolio Report reflecting on wider issues emerging in contemporary legal and compliance practice from at least three of the subject areas covered in the Law & Practice module.

Practice-Focused Dissertation (PFD) – (“Law Background” route)

Students are required to produce a dissertation (maximum 15,500 words) on a law and compliance area of their choosing and relevant to their choice of award (i.e. either Law, Governance, Risk & Compliance, or Law and Financial Crime Compliance, or Law and Private Wealth Advice).

Students will have the opportunity to have up to seven hours of supervision by email from a University of Law tutor during the period over which the dissertation is produced.

The PFD provides the opportunity for the student to demonstrate the ability to carry out in-depth and intensive investigation into a specialist area of legal practice and compliance and to present the findings in a formal, researched study.

The PFD does not have a formal study module, although guidance and guidelines and self-study tasks and briefings are provided, and the University of Law does not set any titles for it. Instead, students will identify (in the Proposal Form assessed in the Research Methods module) a specialist area of practice based upon a broad practice area of law and compliance (this could be a current issue or development in that area) and will propose their own title on this area. A supervisor in the chosen area will be appointed for each student.

Students are required to produce a dissertation (maximum 15,500 words) on a law and compliance area of their choosing relevant to their choice of award (i.e. either Law, Governance, Risk & Compliance, or Law and Financial Crime Compliance, or Law & Private Wealth Advice).

Students will have the opportunity to have up to three hours of supervision by email from a University of Law tutor during the period over which the dissertation is produced.

The PPDS provides the opportunity for the student to demonstrate the ability to carry out in-depth and intensive investigation into a specialist area of legal practice and compliance and to present the findings in a formal, researched study.

The PPDS does not have a formal study module, although guidance and guidelines and self-study tasks and briefings are provided, and the University of Law does not set any titles for it. Instead, students will identify (in the Proposal Form assessed in the Research Methods module) a specialist area of practice based upon a broad practice area of law and compliance (this could be a current issue or development in that area) and will propose their own title on this area. A supervisor in the chosen area will be appointed for each student.

MSc Law, Governance, Risk and Compliance

MSc Law and Financial Crime Compliance

MSc Law and Private Wealth Advice

MSc Law, Governance, Risk and Compliance

MSc Law and Financial Crime Compliance

MSc Law and Private Wealth Advice

In order to apply, students will have studied 90 (M-level) credits in Governance, Risk and Compliance as part of their Professional Postgraduate Diploma in GRC awarded by the International Compliance Association (ICA), or will have studied 90 (M-level) credits in Financial Crime Compliance as part of their Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Crime Compliance awarded by the International Compliance Association (ICA), or will have studied 90 (M-level) credits in Private Wealth Advising as
part of their Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Private Wealth Advising
awarded by STEP.

Course fees outlined below relate to the MSc component studied at The University of Law only.

What's included

A deposit of £250 is payable upon accepting your place and the first instalment of your fees will be due for payment before the start of your course.

Students can choose to pay in instalments. For more information on fees and instalment schedules, please see our terms and conditions.

PLEASE NOTE: To be eligible for this MSc programme, students must already hold either the ICA Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Governance, Risk and Compliance, or the ICA Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Crime Compliance or the STEP Professional Postgraduate in Private Wealth Advising. For the avoidance of doubt, no other diplomas nor equivalent qualifications from any other institution will be recognised as granting eligibility to study.

Advice and information

Application queries

If
you have any queries on the application process, please contact our Admissions Team who will be
happy to help.

Important information

We
go to great lengths to ensure that the information provided for prospective
students is correct at the time of publication. However, we reserve the right
to withdraw or change, for any reason and without notice, any of the programmes
and/or to alter tuition fees, locations, entry requirements and/or the facilities
and/or services available from or provided by or on behalf of the University.
Please note that the choice of subjects may be limited by considerations of
timetable, staffing and/or available places on a course.

Features

Enhance your career with a qualification that reflects cutting-edge approaches to international law, regulatory risk and complianceLearn the professional skills required to apply regulations on the global stage in the field of GRCGain practical experience from tutors with international experienceBenefit from modules designed in conjunction with leading professional law firms